Casa Mendez Guidebook
Groceries
Food 4 Less
6920 Santa Fe AvenueInexpensive groceries.
Smart & Final Extra!
9850 Laurel StreetGrocery store that sells some items in bulk.
El Super
3321 W Century BlvdHispanic-geared store with many foods common in Latin America.
Northgate Market
944 E Slauson AveNearby grocery store geared around Hispanic foods with a prepared food section.
Shopping
Outlet shopping center that looks like an Assyrian castle. Features premier shops like Coach, Michael Kors, kate spade, Tommy Hilfiger, Polo Ralph Lauren, Armani, GUESS, Nike, H&M and more. Has parking and food court.
The Citadel
Outlet shopping center that looks like an Assyrian castle. Features premier shops like Coach, Michael Kors, kate spade, Tommy Hilfiger, Polo Ralph Lauren, Armani, GUESS, Nike, H&M and more. Has parking and food court.
Has a food court and convenience stores like CVS and Dollar Tree, as well as discount stores like Ross, Marshalls, and dd's Discount.
Plaza La Alameda
2140 Florence AveHas a food court and convenience stores like CVS and Dollar Tree, as well as discount stores like Ross, Marshalls, and dd's Discount.
Azalea Shopping Center
4827 Firestone BoulevardNearby shopping center with the closest Walmart and other retail stores.
Designer stores with a farmer's market nearby. Sometimes ornately decorated for the holidays.
2581 locals recommend
The Grove
189 The Grove DrDesigner stores with a farmer's market nearby. Sometimes ornately decorated for the holidays.
Large shopping center with brand name clothing lines and a variety of stores.
262 locals recommend
Glendale Galleria
100 W BroadwayLarge shopping center with brand name clothing lines and a variety of stores.
Neighborhoods
Japanese-style neighborhood with lots of options for Ramen, Sushi, Mochi, and even a market with specialty Japanese/Asian foods. We recommend trying legendary Fugetsu-Do mochi and Daikokuya, Mr. Ramen, or Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen. We also love Far Bar for getting drinks.
435 locals recommend
Little Tokyo
Japanese-style neighborhood with lots of options for Ramen, Sushi, Mochi, and even a market with specialty Japanese/Asian foods. We recommend trying legendary Fugetsu-Do mochi and Daikokuya, Mr. Ramen, or Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen. We also love Far Bar for getting drinks.
If you are a lover of the performance arts, visit the LA Opera, Music Center, Ahmanson Theatre, Walt Disney Concert Hall or even free student concerts at the Colburn School.
There are also many museums including the Broad, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chinese American Museum, The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, Plaza de Cultura y Artes, and Japanese American National Museum.
Some historic sites are the Los Angeles Central Library, Union Station and City Hall.
737 locals recommend
Downtown Los Angeles
If you are a lover of the performance arts, visit the LA Opera, Music Center, Ahmanson Theatre, Walt Disney Concert Hall or even free student concerts at the Colburn School.
There are also many museums including the Broad, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chinese American Museum, The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, Plaza de Cultura y Artes, and Japanese American National Museum.
Some historic sites are the Los Angeles Central Library, Union Station and City Hall.
Pagoda-style buildings with red lanterns house traditional Chinese restaurants, dim sum houses and bakeries, plus specialty grocery stores and gift shops.
399 locals recommend
Chinatown
Pagoda-style buildings with red lanterns house traditional Chinese restaurants, dim sum houses and bakeries, plus specialty grocery stores and gift shops.
Sightseeing
The beach is a big part of the West Coast and this pier has lots of attractions, including a Ferris wheel and rollercoaster, restaurants and arcade. We love Pier Burger as a food spot and Dippin Dots ice cream or funnel cake as a snack.
2744 locals recommend
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica PierThe beach is a big part of the West Coast and this pier has lots of attractions, including a Ferris wheel and rollercoaster, restaurants and arcade. We love Pier Burger as a food spot and Dippin Dots ice cream or funnel cake as a snack.
Unique structure featuring a Victorian center court with wrought-iron stairs & birdcage elevators.
164 locals recommend
bradbury building
304 South BroadwayUnique structure featuring a Victorian center court with wrought-iron stairs & birdcage elevators.
Beautiful botanical gardens worthy of an all-day trip.
999 locals recommend
Huntington Library Art Collections and Botanical Gardens
1151 Oxford RdBeautiful botanical gardens worthy of an all-day trip.
See the Endeavour space shuttle and science museum, right next to the Natural History Museum and Exposition Rose Park all near the University of Southern California (USC).
442 locals recommend
California Science Center
700 Exposition Park DrSee the Endeavour space shuttle and science museum, right next to the Natural History Museum and Exposition Rose Park all near the University of Southern California (USC).
Known for the "Urban Light" street lamps art installation, this museum has diverse art collections and is located right next to the La Brea Tar Pits, where you can see a fossil excavation site.
3162 locals recommend
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire BlvdKnown for the "Urban Light" street lamps art installation, this museum has diverse art collections and is located right next to the La Brea Tar Pits, where you can see a fossil excavation site.
Auto enthusiasts can see the amazing collection of cars at this museum.
538 locals recommend
Petersen Automotive Museum
6060 Wilshire BlvdAuto enthusiasts can see the amazing collection of cars at this museum.
A museum featuring American and European art with a sizable campus with gardens and sculptures.
2309 locals recommend
The Getty
1200 Getty Center DrA museum featuring American and European art with a sizable campus with gardens and sculptures.
This Greek cathedral is a beautiful sight to see, with ornate paintings, gold adornments, and complex interior design.
St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral
1324 Normandie AveThis Greek cathedral is a beautiful sight to see, with ornate paintings, gold adornments, and complex interior design.
An open-air market with performances and artesanias (hand crafted goods) that feels like Mexico.
7 locals recommend
Placita Olvera
5-11 Olvera StAn open-air market with performances and artesanias (hand crafted goods) that feels like Mexico.
Things to Do
Want to enjoy a beachside fire pit? Load up the s'mores and firewood and use the public fire pits here.
84 locals recommend
Bolsa Chica State Beach
Pacific Coast HwyWant to enjoy a beachside fire pit? Load up the s'mores and firewood and use the public fire pits here.
A hiking trail north of Pasadena that leads to a small waterfall.
51 locals recommend
Eaton Canyon Falls Trail
Eaton Canyon Falls TrailA hiking trail north of Pasadena that leads to a small waterfall.
Bar Scene
A high-end bar atop the InterContinental with a view of the downtown skyline from 73 floors up in the air.
45 locals recommend
Spire 73
900 Wilshire BlvdA high-end bar atop the InterContinental with a view of the downtown skyline from 73 floors up in the air.
Far Bar
347 1st StreetFar Bar in the heart of Little Tokyo.
Eightytwo
707 E 4th PlFun arcade-style bar.
Angel City Brewery
216 S Alameda StCraft beer as close to the brewery as it gets.
Food scene
Authentic mexican food with must-try Oaxacan mole located in Koreatown.
56 locals recommend
Guelaguetza Restaurante
3014 W Olympic BlvdAuthentic mexican food with must-try Oaxacan mole located in Koreatown.
The best greek food in the Byzantine-Latino quarter. We recommend the lamb gyros, lamb chops, or kebabs. Stop at the market and try their freshly made manouri cheese and baked breads.
36 locals recommend
Papa Cristo's Greek Grill
2771 W Pico BlvdThe best greek food in the Byzantine-Latino quarter. We recommend the lamb gyros, lamb chops, or kebabs. Stop at the market and try their freshly made manouri cheese and baked breads.
Castle B.B.Q.
473 N Western AveKorean BBQ spot where you can grill your own meats.
This cute bakery has unique and tasty pastries in a buffet-style setup.
50 locals recommend
Paris Baguette
3470 W 6th StThis cute bakery has unique and tasty pastries in a buffet-style setup.
Small food spot nearby with a specialty in Tortas Ahogadas - a sloppy sandwich dipped in sauce. We also love the Carne en Su Jugo, a savory soup with beef strips cooked in their own juices or for desert their Jericallas, a traditional pudding.
Tortas Ahogadas Guadalajara
6042 Santa Fe AvenueSmall food spot nearby with a specialty in Tortas Ahogadas - a sloppy sandwich dipped in sauce. We also love the Carne en Su Jugo, a savory soup with beef strips cooked in their own juices or for desert their Jericallas, a traditional pudding.
The OG Ramen spot in LA, our personal favorite. Their Daikoku Ramen comes with bamboo shoots, a soft-boiled flavored egg, bean sprouts, pork chashu, green onion, and the best broth with no comparison.
122 locals recommend
Daikokuya
327 1st StThe OG Ramen spot in LA, our personal favorite. Their Daikoku Ramen comes with bamboo shoots, a soft-boiled flavored egg, bean sprouts, pork chashu, green onion, and the best broth with no comparison.
Otium
222 S Hope StHigh end restaurant for a fancy dinner in an artsy space.
No visit to LA is complete without a bite from In-N-Out Burger. Diner style casual burger joint since 1948, we love ordering our burgers and fries "animal style".
In-N-Out Burger
4601 Firestone BoulevardNo visit to LA is complete without a bite from In-N-Out Burger. Diner style casual burger joint since 1948, we love ordering our burgers and fries "animal style".